Project FAQ
Here at Manga University, we strive tirelessly to bring our students the tools and tips they need to excel at drawing, coloring and storytelling. But millions of page views later, there is one question that still regularly finds its way into our inbox.
“How can I get my artwork published?”
This is your chance. "Manga Without Borders" is MU’s series of art-book portfolios showcasing the drawing talent of semi-professional manga illustrators from around the globe, and we are looking for 60 highly talented artists to be included in the latest volume. Click here to see a sample spread from the book
Submitting your artwork to "Manga Without Borders Vol. 2" is free, however we require that you read the following FAQ before submitting your work so that you have a full understanding of the project before submitting.
Please use the following links to navigate the FAQ:
- So what exactly is "Manga Without Borders Vol. 2?"
- How do I get in?
- Do I have to pay money to submit my artwork?
- Is this project "vanity publishing?"
- What chance do I have of being included?
- Is this a scam?
- What should I draw?
- When will I hear back from you?
- What are my rights to the artwork I submit?
- How many copies will you print?
- I still have questions...
So what exactly is "Manga Without Borders Vol. 2"?
“Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” is a cooperative project. Our goal with both this and the previous "Manga Without Borders" book is to bring together a group of semi-professional manga artists from around the world to showcase their talent and prove that great manga doesn’t just come from Japan. The book will be sold and distributed in the manga sections of bookstores worldwide, and will receive a full marketing push, including display at our company's booth at the prestigious Book Expo America trade show in New York City in May 2009 as well as Anime Expo Los Angeles and other industry events. Of course, the book is also a valuable promotional opportunity for the artists involved, as each will receive their own two-page spread in the book, with their illustrations on one page artist profile and resume on the opposite.
Click here to see a sample spread from the book
That sounds awesome! How do I get in?
Anyone is free to submit their artwork to the “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” project, and there is no cost to do so. However, only 60 artists will be invited to have their artwork included in the book.
If your artwork is not accepted, we will still respond to you with a brief critique of your illustration, and your name and country will be printed in the book — free of charge — as one of the project participants (with your permission).
If you are among the 60 artists who are selected, you will be invited to pay a $100 fee to cover the cost of having your profile and illustration included in the book. Keep in mind that even if you are accepted, you are under absolutely no obligation to pay the fee or be included in the project. You will still have the option of having your name included in the book free of charge.
Wait, so I have to pay you money to show you my art?
No, you don't have to pay us anything. Submitting your artwork to the “Manga Without Borders” project is free of charge. You are under absolutely no obligation to pay anything at any time during the submission procedure. We will not ask for any personal or payment information when you submit your artwork beyond your name, email address and country of residence. You will also get your name printed in the book (if you like) and a brief critique of your artwork for free, just for sending us your art (one critique per person).
“Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” is an art-book as well as a portfolio for the artists involved in the project. While we know it will be a great book on its own, it also serves the purpose of being a large-scale promotion for the 60 artists we feature. Being included in “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” is not only a great way to get your work in the hands of thousands of manga fans worldwide, but a tangible part of your resume and portfolio to show that your material has been published by an award-winning Japanese publishing company with a long history in the manga and anime industry.
We will ask you to submit the $100 publication fee only if you are among the 60 chosen artists whose illustrations have been deemed suitable for inclusion in a Manga University publication. If at this time you decide that you would not like to pay the fee and/or do not want to have your work published you are free to opt out of the project. We will not charge you anything, and we will still put your name and country in the book with your permission.
In the fine-art world, it is common for publishing companies to create books and magazines similar to “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2.” Talented artists who want to gain exposure will submit their artwork (usually with a fee) to the publisher, and if the artwork is deemed appropriate the artist will pay again, often upwards of $1,000 to have their work featured in a printed volume. Artists pay these fees because they know the exposure and credibility from having their work featured in one of these publications will be of benefit to their artistic career.
What we are trying to do is bring this same kind of publishing opportunity to the manga world, but at a much lower price.
Just think: You could spend the same amount of money on drawing supplies or a website that lets you post your work, but there would be no guarantee of improvement or exposure. However, we guarantee that at least 5,000 copies of “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” will be printed and distributed worldwide. The book will be available in major bookstores wherever manga is sold, and it will be exhibited at conventions throughout the United States and Japan. Where else is your artwork going to get that kind of mileage for $100?
Is this project what they call "vanity publishing"?
No. Vanity publishing (or, as some companies like to call it, "self-publishing") is when an author or artist pays a company a fee to publish their work, regardless of its quality or merit. Most of the time, it is then up to the author or artist to publicize, distribute and sell the book.
Manga University is not a vanity publisher. In fact, we are very picky about whom and what we publish. We are a Japanese manga company, and all of our authors, artists, editors and designers are paid for their work. “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” is an exception in that the 60 selected artists will pay a nominal fee to be included in the book. However, every other aspect of the book’s design, publication, promotion and distribution will be handled by us.
To put it simply, no vanity publisher will design, promote and distribute a book featuring your artwork for a $100 fee. What we are offering is the opportunity to be included in one of our products, a Manga University book — not a print-on-demand service. In addition, because we are limiting the number of selected artists to 60, being included in the compilation becomes a testament to your talent and skill level. Paying a vanity publisher, on the other hand, is something anyone can do.
OK, I definitely want in, But really, what chance do I have of being included?
We encourage anyone who feels they’ve got a talent for drawing manga to submit their work to us. Remember, even if your work is not chosen for the book, you will receive a brief critique of your artwork and your name will be included in the book at no cost to you. However, we ask that entrants be realistic: Only 60 artists will be chosen for inclusion in the book. If you just started drawing a few months ago and are still working on the basics, this project is not for you.
Conversely, if you are a professional working manga artist whose work has already been published in several major outlets, having your profile in this book is not going to give your career the same boost that a lesser-known semi-professional might get. If you are not completely serious about having your artwork included in “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2,” we ask that you refrain from entering so that consideration can be given to those who will benefit most from the project.
This project is for you if you are a semi-professional manga artist that has yet to have your artwork published. If you are praised by friends and peers for your skill or have a few commissions under your belt, but you just don’t know where to go to get your work greater recognition, “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” could be your ticket to global exposure.
I heard from a friend of a friend that this was a scam. Is it?
Absolutely not. The “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” project is a legitimate publishing project funded by our company. You are under no obligation to pay any money at any point in the process of submitting your work, and there is no risk to participating in any way.
“Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” is not a contest, and we will not simply include anyone who feels that they want to pay to be published. Only 60 artists will be chosen for the project, and we reserve full judgment over who is included. If the work you submit is not up to the quality we are aiming for with this project, we will reply to you with a brief critique free of charge.
If, and only if, your work is chosen to be included in the project will we then ask you for the inclusion fee. Even then, you can tell us no. Just let us know you're not interested — we’ll still put your name in the book as a thank you for submitting.
Japanime Co. Ltd., the company behind Manga University, has been in business since 1998, and during that time has published more than 30 titles. Our books have won awards and recognition from both the Japanese government and the American Library Association, and our products have been featured in newspapers, magazines, and museum exhibitions throughout the world. Despite our small staff, we regularly travel to conventions across the globe to exhibit our products and meet face to face with customers and fans. If you have any questions about our company, please check our About Us page(link) or e-mail us with your comments and questions (link). We will respond to any inquiry personally within 2 to 3 business days.
Your submission should be an original character illustration that expresses your unique talent as a manga artist. If you are especially good with a certain technique or style, bring all of it to the table in your submission. Since this artwork could end up representing you in a publication, it makes sense to submit something you are really comfortable with and proud of, and not something you were trying out for the first time.
Full-color drawings with backgrounds will be given preference, as will drawings that are vertical. Submitting a horizontal drawing will not disqualify you, but horizontal images will be printed sideways in the book, so we recommend submitting a vertical-oriented drawing if possible.
For the initial submission, you may submit a low-resolution version of your artwork (i.e. 72 dpi). If we select your artwork for publication, we will require an image that is 300 dpi or higher.
A few more rules about submissions:
- All submissions are due by
May 30, 2009.Deadline has been extended to July 31, 2009
- You may submit only one (1) illustration. You may, however be asked to submit additonal images if we need more samples to determine your eligibility for the project.
- Absolutely no fan art will be considered for publication. Even if you are extremely talented, sending fan art as your submission will result in your being rejected for the project. Only completely original characters and drawings will be accepted.
- No plagiarism. This should go without saying, but the art you submit must be your own. If we see the drawing you submitted being claimed by someone else, we will investigate and you may lose the chance to be included in “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2.” If the same illustration is submitted by two different people, both will be disqualified immediately. If during the submission process you are found to have submitted plagiarized work, you will not receive a critique nor will your name be included in the book.
- Furthermore, by agreeing to have your artwork published in the book and submitting the publication fee to us, you are entering into a legal agreement that the illustration you have submitted is your own. If for some reason you are found to have plagiarized your submission after it has already been accepted and you have paid the inclusion fee, you will be removed from the project and no refund will be issued.
After I submit my artwork, how soon will I hear back from you?
Within minutes of submitting your artwork, you will receive an automated email confirming your submission.
If you have submitted your artwork before the initial deadline of May 30, 2009, we will contact you no later than June 15, 2009, to let you know if you have been accepted into the project. If you submit your work after the May 30 deadline extension we will respond no later then August 15, 2009.
What are my rights to the artwork I submit?
You have full rights to the artwork you submit to the project regardless of whether it is published in “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2.” In other words, it is OK for you to do whatever you want with your artwork before, during, and after the production of “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2.”
If your art work is accepted into “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” and you choose to let us publish it, we will send you a publication agreement detailing our rights over your artwork in relation to the project. But basically, the selected artists will be granting us single usage rights for the purpose of publishing their illustrations in “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” and promotional materials related to “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2.” Your artwork will not be used for any other product, promotion or service without written permission from you.
How many copies will you print?
Depending on demand from distributors and bookstores, we will likely print between 5,000 to 15,000 copies of “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2.” We will do whatever we can to promote the book online, at conventions, and in stores to make sure your art gets into the hands of as many fans, journalists and industry members as possible.
If my artwork is chosen, will I get any free copies of the book?
Yes. The artists whose work is published in “Manga Without Borders Vol. 2” will be sent 10 free copies of the book (a $150 dollar value). In addition, those artists will have the opportunity to purchase as many additional copies as they wish directly from Manga University for $7.50 each (50% off the retail price).
That clears up a lot, but I still have a couple of questions.
No problem. If you have any other questions regarding this or any other Manga University product or service, you can contact us through this site, and we will respond to your inquiry personally within 2-3 business days.
